Bab 14: Adorable Little Cutie
"Is there really nothing you need my help with?" Yukinoshita Haruno asked again, unwilling to give up.
Izumi Kotomi shook her head vigorously, her innocent and naive expression showing her confusion about why Haruno was so insistent. Haruno couldn't figure out whether it was her who was out of touch or Kotomi. How could a new author not have any questions for her editor?
Come on, give me some face as your editor. Just one question would do. That way, I could be like those classic editors in manga, slapping you out of your confusion and leading you to success. And then over time, maybe we could even...
Haruno quickly shook her head, realizing her thoughts were straying in a strange direction.
"Sigh... Maybe all geniuses are just aloof," she sighed, feeling dejected. She had hoped to help Kotomi on her path to becoming a successful author, but it seemed that Kotomi, with her innate talent, didn't need any help from a novice editor like herself.
Kotomi remained silent for a moment, but then she seemed to understand why Haruno was asking. She smiled and said, "For now, my writing process is going smoothly, and I don't need to trouble you, Yukinoshita-san. But rest assured, if I do need help, you'll be the first person I contact. I won't let it affect my writing schedule."
"Mm-hmm!" Haruno nodded, finally feeling some sense of participation as Kotomi's editor.
"Oh, by the way, Izumi-sensei, our editorial department is planning a dinner gathering the day after tomorrow. Would you like to join us? It would be a good opportunity to introduce you to the other editors, the operations team, and even Hiratsuka-san, our editor-in-chief," Haruno suggested.
"The day after tomorrow? I'm afraid I can't make it—I'm starting school soon," Kotomi replied with a shake of her head.
"Oh, right. You'll be a high school student once the school year starts."
Haruno had almost forgotten that Kotomi was only 16 years old and would be starting high school after the summer break.
"I'd love to join, but unfortunately, I'll have to wait for another opportunity."
"No worries, it's just a casual dinner where we play games like Werewolf. But could I ask which high school you'll be attending, Izumi-sensei?"
"Sobu High School," Kotomi answered.
"Really? You're going to Sobu High School?"
"Yes," Kotomi nodded.
"What a coincidence! I went to Sobu High School. My younger sister, who's around your age, is also attending Sobu High School this year. Hehe, I know it might sound like I'm bragging, but my sister is adorably cute—practically illegal levels of cute!"
Of course, I know that, Kotomi thought with a playful smile. Out loud, she said, "What a small world! I hope I'll have the chance to meet your sister, Yukinoshita-san."
"She's cute, but...," Haruno sighed, "Her personality is not the easiest to get along with. She can be an ice queen, cold, and sharp-tongued. I wish she were more like me in that regard."
More like you? Kotomi thought. At least then she might have some friends at school instead of being isolated. Haruno couldn't help but hope that her sister would meet someone like Kotomi at Sobu High School and become friends.
As Haruno envisioned this, she wondered if her sister might encounter Kotomi at school. Would they become friends?
"It's already almost five o'clock," Kotomi remarked, glancing at the clock, surprised at how quickly time had passed.
"Izumi-sensei, would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" Haruno invited.
In both Dengeki Bunko and other light novel publishers, it was almost a tradition for editors to take new authors out for a meal after signing a contract, to bond over dinner. This was a common social practice in the Japanese workplace.
However, Haruno had never taken an author out for dinner before—not because she didn't want to, but because she had never had an author under her wing. Despite handling many author submissions and contracts, she had never been assigned as the official editor for any author until now. She had often envied other editors taking their authors out to dinner.
Finally, after much waiting, she had her first author, Kotomi, and could finally experience being an official editor.
But Kotomi shook her head, her voice soft and a little timid. "I can't. I need to be home by 6:30. My mom will be upset if I'm late."
"Oh, right! I almost forgot about that. Well, how about we go out to eat after Sword Art Online's first volume is successfully published? But wow, Izumi-sensei, you really are a good girl who listens to her mom."
Haruno's playful smile and teasing eyes made Kotomi blush slightly, and before she could react, Haruno reached out and patted her silky white hair.
Maybe it was instinctual. When seeing something cute, it was hard to resist the urge to touch it.
And Kotomi was the epitome of adorable.
Oh no... I can't resist; she's just too cute! Haruno thought to herself. And with this kind of development, it would feel so nice to bury my face in it if she agreed.
As she continued to stroke Kotomi's hair, Haruno daydreamed blissfully.
"Yukinoshita-san, my hair is getting messy..."
Kotomi's voice was soft and weak. She didn't know why, but she felt powerless in front of assertive girls, unable to resist them at all.
Could it be that she really was... the submissive type?
No way, no way! There's at least an 80% chance I'm the dominant one!
I'm the dominant one! I'm the dominant one! I'm the dominant one! Kotomi mentally repeated to herself, trying to convince herself. Little did she know, her tiny expressions only made others want to hug and dote on her even more.
"Ah, sorry. It was just so pleasant to the touch that I got carried away," Haruno quickly apologized, reluctantly pulling her hand away from Kotomi's hair.
The moment she let go, she felt a tinge of reluctance, wishing she could stroke her hair just a little longer.
Kotomi smoothed her hair with her hand and then said, "It's getting late; I should head home."
"Let me walk you downstairs."
"Thank you, Yukinoshita-san." Kotomi didn't refuse and walked with Haruno to the first floor.
As they reached the entrance, Haruno couldn't resist saying, "Goodbye, Izumi-sensei. If you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me. I'm super knowledgeable!"
"Haha... I will, Yukinoshita-san. Goodbye."
Kotomi laughed and then jogged toward the train station.
After watching Kotomi's figure disappear from sight, Haruno turned and headed back to the editorial office.
"Haruno, you're back? How did things go with Izumi-sensei?" Kagami Ai asked when she saw Haruno return.
She had originally wanted to sneak a peek at what Izumi-sensei looked like, but she had been busy with editing a website article and missed the chance.
"We successfully signed the contract." Haruno raised her index and middle fingers, making a V for victory.
"Congratulations! Let's go celebrate with some Ichiraku Ramen tonight!"
"Sure, I was just craving some of their miso char siu ramen," Haruno agreed with a nod.
"But I didn't get to see Izumi-sensei. Such a shame... What does she look like, Haruno?"
Haruno thought for a moment before answering with a serious expression, "I used to think my sister Yukino was the cutest in the world, but after meeting Izumi-sensei, I realized she's even cuter!"
"If I were your sister and heard you say that, I'd probably think, 'So love really does fade away, huh?'"
"Hahaha, I'm just joking. But seriously, Izumi-sensei is really adorable. You'll have to meet her sometime," Haruno said with a half-joking tone before turning on her computer to finish some unfinished work.
As she touched the mouse, her fingers subconsciously curled inward, and she was reminded of the feeling of touching Kotomi's soft hand and hair.
The memory was so vivid, it felt like the sensation was etched into her mind.
Looking at her hand, Haruno silently mused, "Kotomi... I really want to learn more about her..."
Her true feelings were that she wanted to know more about Kotomi—not just a little more.
But greedily, she wanted to know everything about her...
Haruno was greedy, but she hadn't yet realized just how much.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone